Praise the Lord God. I want to talk about Jesus. I could go on and on about a lot of different things tonight, about different things that I have experienced and seen since I've been serving the Lord. But, I would like to speak about Jesus. Those of you who would like to hear me just share out of the Word about our Savior Jesus, I would like you to raise your hand. Thank you very much. Praise God.

First of all we read in Matthew chapter 3, starting in verse 13, Then Jesus came from Gallilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him saying, 'I need to be baptized by You. And do You come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now. It is proper for us to do this, to fulfill all righteousness.' And I'm reading from The New International Version. Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is My Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased. In chapter 4, starting in verse one it says, Then Jesus was led by the Spirit, [Jesus was led by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit] into the desert to be tempted by the devil..

Why would that happen? Why would Jesus need to be tempted of the devil. The Word of God tells us, The Word was with God, and the Word was God in the beginning. And the Word became flesh. Jesus needed to be tempted to understand men, mankind, what we're dealing with here in this body that we're wearing, here. You say, 'Well, why did this happen?' Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. And the Word of God tells us in Matthew 4:8, Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will give You,' he said, 'If You bow down and worship me.' See, the devil was feelin' very full of himself. Man had fallen. Man was in a terrible mess. You know, the other day, my wife and I were passing a sign that said, Persons Working. [Out in California, on the road] I said, 'Look at that. They have changed if from men working, now to persons working.' And my wife said, 'If women understood the Word of God, they wouldn't be offended by the word 'man' or 'men'. Because the Word of God says, He created them man.' Praise the Lord Jesus. And it says here that, The devil told Him, 'I will give You all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give You, if You will bow down and worship me. And Jesus said, 'Away from Me, satan, for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God. And serve Him only.' Then the devil left Him. And the angels came and attended to Jesus.

Now I want to read from Hebrews 4:14-16, Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. But we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin. I just read to you that the devil offered Jesus everything on the earth, all the kingdoms of the earth. And that would include all the women, all the jewels, all the gold, all the sin, all the things that were created of beauty. But everything of the world, because the world was dark and destitute, spiritually because of the fall of man. The Word of God tells us that, The world was sold into sin through a man. And the Word of God tells us, Through a man we were redeemed, the Son of Man, Jesus, the King of Kings. The Word of God says, Since we have a Lord who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence. So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Then in Colossians1:15-23, who is Jesus? Let's talk about the supremacy of Christ. He is the image of the invisible God. The first born over all creation. For by Him [Jesus] all things were created. things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. All things were created by Him [Jesus] and for Him. He is before all things. And in Him [Jesus] all things hold together. Listen to that. Jesus is before all things and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body [the body of Christ], the church. Jesus is the beginning and the first born from among the dead. Why? Because He was the first to ressurect from the dead. Talkin' about His resurrection to raise us to life. So that in everything He might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him. And through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth, or things in heaven. By making peace through His blood shed on the cross. Making peace through His Blood shed on the cross. The Word of God is reading your mail right now. He's saying, Once you were alienated from God, and were enemies in your mind because of your evil behavior. He's talkin' to me. But Now He has reconciled you, God has reconciled you by Christ's physical body. That's why Jesus was born into the flesh. Through death, to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Did you hear that? Free from accusation. If you continue in your faith, established and firm. Not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

Why is it that Jesus is able to forgive any one? Why is it that any one can come to Jesus can find forgiveness? The Word of God says that, Jesus was tempted in all things. How could He have been tempted in all things? I just read to you where I believe He was tempted in all things in that one thing that the devil spoke to Him. I will give you all kingdoms of the world. And yet Jesus was without sin. The Word of God says, Therefore, we come boldly before our high priest, Jesus Christ.

My Deepest Love,
Jeff
Houston, Texas, winter, 1992